The first-ever Big Weekend will kick-off in a showcase of rivalries new and old in the Guinness PRO12 as the best players from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales take to the field this weekend.

A number of the biggest club rugby venues in Britain and Ireland will play host to some of the most exciting match-ups in the Championship just one week before clubs from Guinness PRO12 begin their European campaigns.

Across the first five rounds of action the Guinness PRO12 has attracted more TV viewers and higher attendances than at this point last season with more exciting rugby on offer and more tries being scored.

In addition to offering rugby union fans a chance to enjoy their favourite rivalries and see new ones emerge, Martin Anayi, Chief Executive of PRO12 Rugby, explained that it was the ideal preparation for European competition.

“The Guinness PRO12 has colourful history which has entertained traditional tribal rivalries and created new ones, too, and what better way to celebrate this than by introducing our six Big Weekends,” Anayi said.

“These games mean so much to our clubs and supporters and we hope that by grouping them together before taking on Europe’s elite it will ensure that the match-winning instincts of our players have been intensely honed in our Championship.

“The competition in the Guinness PRO12 has never been so intense and the performances of our clubs has caught the imagination of our fans who are turning out in greater numbers to our games and watching more of our broadcasts,” Anayi added.

The Big Weekends for the Guinness PRO12 will occur in Rounds 6, 7, 11, 12 & 20 before the grand regular season finale in Round 22, where Super Saturday will provide an enthralling fixture list as teams compete for places in the Semi-Finals and for Champions Cup qualification.

ATTENDANCE GROWTH

Total attendance for Rounds 1 to 5 is 208,406 which is up 4% on 2015/16Like for Like Games comparison has seen an increase of 6.5% (up from 195,892) on 2015/16BROADCAST GROWTH

Average audience per weekend during Rounds 1 to 4 was 451,750 which is up 22.5% when compared to 2015/16 among audiences in Ireland and Wales.

Yes, from reading the Cardiff forums they seem pretty happy about a rise in attendance figures. Maybe they are all turning up to see Big Nick 'the wrecking ball' Williams A bit of success will do wonders for the Regions. If Cardiff can maintain a real challenge for the top, I expect their attendance figures to really jump.

Yep, your attendance table was great work, last season. Really informative. It would be great to see the comparisons.

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Great news. Long may it continue. I said at the beginning of the season that the Welsh regions would improve on their miserable season last year, and the early signs are they making a good fist of it. Ideally, it would be good to see a Scottish and Welsh side contest the final to further drive support and attendances.

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

Last edited by Griff on Wed 05 Oct 2016, 11:17 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Didn't make sense!)

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

When it comes to AWJ, you can be fairly sure anyone describing him as world class is deluded.

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

When it comes to AWJ, you can be fairly sure anyone describing him as world class is deluded.

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

When it comes to AWJ, you can be fairly sure anyone describing him as world class is deluded.

Why?

Because the person you're speaking with is an anti-Welsh anti traveller homophobic troll. I guess living alone with your cats is enough to make one a very angry person - better go vent over the Internet

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

When it comes to AWJ, you can be fairly sure anyone describing him as world class is deluded.

Why?

Because the person you're speaking with is an anti-Welsh anti traveller homophobic troll. I guess living alone with your cats is enough to make one a very angry person - better go vent over the Internet

PhilBB wrote:Isn't it amazing that people turn up to watch winners. To make winners, you need money in pro sport.

Welsh rugby is now just getting out of a 5 to 6 year rut where money was relatively removed from the professional game thanks to Roger Lewis.

What we are slowly seeing in three of the four teams (forget the other one, that's a basket case of dogma over financial common sense) is investment leading to better rugby.

Alun Wyn Jones agrees with you. He's very enthusiastic about what is basically a version of the bad old Irish system, supposedly 'invented' in Wales

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37543276

Everyone is slowly coming on side...... Great news.

World class opinion from a world class player.

Here we go again, you've used 'AWJ' and 'World Class' in the same sentence again. How deluded can you be. AWJ wouldn't get into the England Squad, let alone a World 15.

World class isn't just the best 15 players in the world though. I'd consider Pocock world class but with McCaw probably getting into the world 15 in that position that would make Pocock not world class? Nonsense! You just have to be one of the best in the world. I'd consider AWJ one of those, but of course it is just opinion and open to disagreement/ridicule. Similarly Richie Gray is often touted as 'world class' but I've never quite understood it. But I don't say people are deluded as we all appreciate different things.

When it comes to AWJ, you can be fairly sure anyone describing him as world class is deluded.

carpet baboon wrote:When it comes to second row no one compares to Martin Johnson and John Eales. (I would add O'Connell to the list but I'm sure I would be accused of bias)

I wouldn't have Martin Johnson as a great lock, more of a great rugby player/leader. O'Connell had it all - was a great lock with great athleticism as well as a great leader. I'd rate AWJ as a great rugby player as well. A bit short on stature, but a really great competitor. He will teach those young English locks a thing or two yet!

O'Connell was a very good leader (except when sulking and smoking in his room) but I'd say he made the best of his abilities through graft and sheet bloody-mindedness. Not a great player and certainly shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Johnson or Eales.

Cyril wrote:O'Connell was a very good leader (except when sulking and smoking in his room) but I'd say he made the best of his abilities through graft and sheet bloody-mindedness. Not a great player and certainly shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Johnson or Eales.

Cyril wrote:O'Connell was a very good leader (except when sulking and smoking in his room) but I'd say he made the best of his abilities through graft and sheet bloody-mindedness. Not a great player and certainly shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Johnson or Eales.

Cyril wrote:O'Connell was a very good leader (except when sulking and smoking in his room) but I'd say he made the best of his abilities through graft and sheet bloody-mindedness. Not a great player and certainly shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Johnson or Eales.